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This morning was as windy as yesterday, 30 mph with gusts to 45. It was supposed to settle down and stay kinda cool, so I decided to jump in the waders and hit the river. Never saw so much beach before! The tide was way out. I knew low tide was after 12 further down the river so going a couple hours earlier would do. Even the old V8 engine block was out of the water today. In 5 hours I did pretty good. Got some trash but nothing too trifling, a couple of pull tabs and a beer can or two, some fishing tackle, shotgun shells and some odd bits of lead. Bronze bead or roller of some sort, it is not hollow. Nice fancy rivet with a sun pattern, even the shank is patterned. Thin brass device holder of some sort, looks like it had an insert, either stone or cloisonne. Not sure what the copper circular object is but it is thick, heavy and appears to have snapped off something. 1918 Buffalo nickel, undated Buffalo, wheat and IHP with no dates. I had to break them out of their encrustation. The Buffalos were 9/10, the pennies both 14. And the find of the day, I was surprised: Solid brass Brown Bess musket buttplate with engraving. At first I thought it was for an Enfield but it's too big. Dates from mid 1700s to mid 1800s. Either this place was hit hard for silver or I need a PI detector. 😀 Nickels and pennies are everywhere, there's gotta be some silver coins here.

My day started by taking my wife to breakfast and a trip to a local greenhouse. On our way back we drove by a place I have wanted to hunt for a while and couldn't because the owners were just not to friendly. But low and behold I noticed some new house development signs. I did a quick title search and found out it was sold and being developed very soon. So I grabbed my stuff and headed back to this 1830's house. Today was the first day since I got the 800 I could spend more than an hour and a half detecting. My first two hours were a pretty much a bust except a cool silver plate spoon and my wife texting me to see if I found anymore jewelry? (NO) I was getting a little frustrated and decided to focus on a small strip of grass (three feet wide) next to the driveway and an overgrown pasture. After five feet I got an OK 28-29 signal that was kind of bouncy. First good coin popped out a 1905 barber quarter (yes) Things were looking up. I jumped across the driveway and hunted near a rather young pine tree. Two swings and boom a 24-26 and out comes a 1919 mercury. Things are getting interesting. I stood up after digging the merc, swung again got 23-24 at 9 inches out comes a coin that had me wondering what the hell is that. after a little quick cleaning I realized I had a 1832 classic head 1/2 cent. But this was no ordinary 1832 this has an over stamp with a cross and the initials FZ. It seems that it was stamped early in its life. I'm wanting to know if anyone has ever found a coin with stampings? I have found a lot of good coins, but this has now become my favorite. The day came to an end and I had to go and enjoy some burgers on the grill. Almost forgot the spoon, Its an american airlines made in the 1930's with the shape of a dc-3 and the words flagship on it.

Today the better half and I hit the camp. She used the Equinox with 6” coil because the 11” is too heavy for her. I had the DEUS with 11” coil. The DEUS takes some concentration but it does pull some stuff out. Tiny to large it sees it. I don’t mind the false at times on flat iron. Anyways here are some pics of my finds today. The little button is a sailing ship. The pistol probably has a tale or two. The buckle was in a bed of iron and gave a sharp blip on the DEUS.

Yesterday I and some friends were detecting a very old park. There were 3 flour Mills there dating back to 1850. I found a bell dating to Sept 8, 1863. Likely a bell to one of the flour Mills. The bell is almost 5 inches in diameter. I also found two dimes, 1907 and 1876. The 1876 has a CC mint mark ALA Carson City. Finally a few weeks ago in a different park I found a 1909 half dollar. All of this with my new Equinox 800.

I like detecting for a variety of gold and really enjoy finding the stuff many higher end detectors can't see. I don't know yet, but feel the extra capabilities of the GPX-6000 will open up some of these areas I hunt with the VLF's to get even more of the gold and at greater depths or in worse soil conditions. As long as I am getting more gold, I'm happy. Will the new GPX-6000 see this kind of gold or act like all other PI's and the ZED and not see at all? I recently recovered this 4.2 gram speci with the EQ-800 while running the new CoilTek NOX 15" round. My goal was to find a piece of gold with the 15" and I met that goal. Part of some other testing back at base proved why I still like to take 2 detector technologies in the field. This particular beauty was found right in the middle of a GPZ-7000 grid area, along with 4 others while using different coils on the EQ-800. All 5 pieces specimens have visible gold and a couple how quite a bit, but to the point. The reason I found them in that gridded area, is because the GPZ-7000 does not respond or on a couple right near 1" and that's it. I teach folks this in my classes, as well as try to educate others on the goods and the bads of different detectors and technologies. Sometimes I get detectorists who are good hunters with their detectors and have success, tell me I'm full of BS and their detector will find it. I made a post on my FB (Gerry McMullen) and shared a pic of the find along with the true comments of, the GPZ will not see it. Between the private messages and or public posts, I was immediately informed by a few of BS and even told how I must not know the GPZ-7000. One well known GP-3500 hunter even said he guaranteed his 3500 would hear it. I know gold detectors and I know how to find gold with a variety of gold machines. No I am not the best, but I most certainly can hold my own and I learn to adapt really fast to a new area. Traveling to different states and countries to hunt for and find many different kinds of gold has helped elevate my detector knowledge and skill of many models of detectors and the differing Au rocks I have collected. So here is hoping the GPX-6000 with it's GeoSensing can respond to this little beauty. If it does, I know of some areas I'll be swinging the 6000. If it is like the GP-3500, the GPX-5000 and the GPZ-7000 and misses it, that fine too, I know what they can't see and realize it, I will also know where not to use the 6000. Bottom line for everyone. Please learn the kinds of gold your detector is good at finding and what it is not, so you aren't wasting time in those areas. Or be sure you have at least 2 different detector technologies.

Mitch, USA gets them last and Africans are so busy digging Nuggets they have no time to post! 😂

Another couple of days behind the 6000, this time with the BT ML 100 headphones. They pair up effortlessly, perform brilliantly, H/phones take out that EMI that is introduced with the speaker, obviously the speaker is being over driven a bit to get the volume up to levels that allow the speaker to be heard in windy conditions. The volume is much like the volume on the Z, tis more then just audio gain. Anyhow the ML 100 headphones with their own volume controls, bring those faint signals in clear and stable as and further adds to the magic of the 6000. But I`m looking forward to trying out the Aventree aptX Band and stop those soggy ears that h/phones cause, being a long time user of Steve`s Insane Settings I go for Sens Auto+ and got to say those of you that are hesitant to use Bogenes settings will soon change your ideas, as JP says it "smashes those tiny targets" and at insane depths. Look out detectorists when ML pack the 6000 features into the next Z or maybe a software upgrade for our existing Zs.

I have found the Tarsacci to run deeper than the Deus, especially in mineralized soil. I see Tarsacci as the best vlf backup to a PI in really hot dirt. However, the tones and IDs are terrible if you are dealing with modern trash (great all metal machine but awful tone ID machine), so I would definitely grab for my Equinox or Deus first if coin shooting in modern trash. At least that has been my experience. A very capable but niche situational machine for hot dirt and salt beach. Anyway, congrats on the silver. I am always reluctant to draw concrete conclusions on machine performance good or bad after one run's worth of results. I tend to chalk up these types of finds to me not being as good on coil coverage as I think I am, even in my own yard. Otherwise, there would be no reason why I continue to find things in my yard even with so-so machines after I have supposedly pounded the area with multiple high performing machines. Nevertheless, there is no denying that the Tarsacci has decent performance. It just lacks a little in the versatility department due to being held back by its audio and a few other missing features. But it also has features and capabilities found on no other vlf.

Cobill- Glad you and many others enjoyed that reading lesson I posted over the winter. It's not that I don't enjoy selling bigger higher end detectors (in fact I do), but it's the VLF's that will keep on giving on a variety of gold the other PI's and ZED just can't see. I don't make this stuff up, it's facts that I can easily back up and I do it every year. Here is another one I recently posted to FB (Gerry McMullen) that the Gold Monster 1000 recovered in the same gridded site the 7000 already clean out. In fact the guy wish the 7 was there and showed me where to go with the Monster, He was so stunned the 7 missed it, he took the nugget and played with his 7 for 30 minutes trying to get the detector to respond. Nothing, not a peep. So what do you think he did next? Be pissed off the 7 did not see it and a handful other others? Or think positive and realize there is a need for a VLF, which he purchased that same day before I left. Now he too is a beleiver and have showed me many ounces of Au he's recovered with his Monster and now Equinox-800, that his 7000 can not see. At least he realized the importance to own both and that a real gold hunter does not like to leave gold. This is a nice collectors specimen and the one his ZED does not see/hear at all, even in air. It The Gold Monster 1000 earned it's bacon on that day. Below is the 32 gram = 1.03 ozt piece so many bigger detectors can not see.

Just got this machine, so i just wanted to take it out in the yard i have hunted for 4 weeks with the XP ORXand DEUS , after digging some tabs , which amazed me as i had been over this spot , and not just one but 6 targets i missed then i find the sterling Military pendant at 7" deep . I did not dig one Iron item, but i could hear iron . all i can say is this machine is different and its good ,very good . in 5 minutes this machine pulled out the 1st silver from this site.

Great finds. Always nice to see old gun parts. Silver seems to hide well sometimes. Interested to know if you were going rather slow and did you ever try digging very iffy, repeatable signals. Sometimes the deep stuff does not come in as a solid hit and a lot of times if it's on the fringe of what the machines can do, it may read as iron. I would dig any tight, small signal for a while and see what turns up. The ground conditions there may limit you to 8" for solid sounding signals.

Thanks matt, it has been fun! My co-workers said forget Oak Island we have Chris and he actually finds stuff.

I use both depending on the weather, during testing I used wired headphones a lot for continuity when making calls on audio ect (full BT operation did not happen till much later in the build/development cycle), but personally prefer a speaker for our climate. I now use the Avantree Rx APTX BT unit just like a WM12 dongle, they come supplied with a lead with a 3.5 mm plug each end and I just add a 6.35 mm adapter to go to the booster input socket. Currently I’ve just been putting the booster in my shirt pocket along with the BT Rx unit and then out to a single GME speaker in my other pocket or clipped to the cross over chest strap if I’m wearing my camelback. IMHO there is really no need for two speakers, the audio on the 6000 is pretty powerful as is so a single speaker in the middle of your chest is more than sufficient. There is a blend of volume required to get the audio sounding nice and crisp, usually this requires the 6000 volume to be about 2 or 3 then adjust the booster volume to a level where you can easily hear the threshold, I then run the coil over a small surface target and confirm its not overloading and back off a touch from there if required. This method also works really well with Zero threshold when in the Auto+ mode. I tend to use Steves insane settings methodology when using Auto+ with Zero threshold and crank the volumes to bang on the tiniest of bits, the threshold breaks pretty regularly and becomes a pseudo threshold but wow does it smash those tiny targets, a really brilliant method in saturable twitchy ground that unsettles the 6000. You need to keep on the Quick-Trak button often in this mode, balancing regularly, an OCD approach to forcing the GB is highly recommended. 😝 Note: DO NOT USE the Tx module anywhere near the control box of the 6000, insanity will result through the cursed EMI!! JP

Any Bluetooth headset will work but to get the optimal level of low latency you need Bluetooth with the aptX Low Latency codec. People also need to be aware there is different aptX codecs also. Not all will give the optimal low latency. There is also standard aptX, aptX HD, & aptX Adaptive. Only aptX Low Latency products will connect with the GPX6000 (or Equinox/Vanquish) with lowest available Bluetooth latency. Need to look for aptX-LL on products. https://www.aptx.com/product-listing?product_category=7&aptx_type=3 Transmitters/receivers: https://www.aptx.com/product-listing?product_category=8&aptx_type=3

I loaned the EQ600 w/15" coil to my friend that normally uses an 800 with 11" coil. He hunted a different beach, but will be trying Laguna in a few days. I had hunted there with him several weeks ago and didn't really have any issues - just didn't find anything. He went and found a 14K gold chain with crucifix, 18.9 grams! Probably one of his best finds of the year so far. He was in ankle deep water. He did not experience any issues with the detector or coil - said it was maybe even more quiet than his 800. He'll probably sell the find and buy a 15" coil. Sens 20, GB tracking, Recovery Speed 2, F2=1, 5 tones.

No pics to show, but I did a video, can’t upload it to this forum. But I wanted to say the one reason I wanted to try the Tarsacci was I heard it might be doable in the red dirt of VA. I have a friend that lives near Culpeper and she has a test garden. Items have been in the ground for about 5 months. The tarsacci heard the targets at different depths with no issues. I love this machine and will use it at the upcoming hunts this fall in the red dirt! The deus struggled and only heard a few targets in the same test garden.

Norvic, I have a 'trick' for you on the headphones to keep your ears dry. I bought one of these hats. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07SPZ6237/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 The material is thin so it doesn't affect the sound coming through the headphones when you wear the headphones outside of the flap. I have to look for this cap every time I'm on the beach or my infrequent trip to the desert these days. Mitchel I just ordered another one even tho I can wash and rinse this one in a sink or water fountain it sometimes needs laundry too.

Congrats Dog, Great coins! I think I got one of the batch of 800's that exclusively finds aluminum and clad!🤣 Go get some more!👍👍

I can assure all forum readers it is much more stable to use the GPX6000 with the headphones wired or wireless or use a wireless speaker arrangement rather than use the inbuilt speaker. JP

Does anyone here prospect in Africa? (Do they have internet?) I know prospectors who have gone to Africa and prospected and taught but is anyone on this forum there? We never seem to know what is going on there with metal detecting. One of the reasons I ask is that with the release of the new Minelab GPX 6000 it has been stated that this detector was released to Africa months ago. What is the difference? Wasn't the Gold Monster designed originally for the African market? We look at sales for Minelab and Africa is their biggest market. Why do I never see many pictures or read any stories?

I like watching the show How It’s Made and when I turned the TV on today it was about making detectors. They were at Garrett factory and started out showing how their coils were made plus how each was tested. Then they went through the whole assembly to complete a working metal detector. I’ve seen something like this before but I believe it was somewhat different than the previous one. It was just good to see something American made. Chuck

Aye Mn the 15x10 X coil as all the X coils I`ve used lifted the Z another level, but time and new tech has brought us the 6000 which lifts it another level again, watch out when ML introduces Z2 with that 6000 tech and lightness, just wish they`d allow for aftermarket coils as they once did.

I saw some of the guys in Australia make a Trumpet to deflect the sound upward from the speaker on the sdc. Great idea, but shipping was a bit much, so I cut a 90 pcv fitting in half and used velcroe to attach. Cheap little project and does add a noticeable increase in sound coming up from the speaker.

Talk about cool finds! I like the buttplate

Very nice. I like that plate. Could have been hit hard before. Usually if your finding nickels and pennies and not even a dime then someones picked it before ya.

Another lovely day here, winds at 30 with gusts to 45. It was sunny and fairly warm so I got a quick hunt in on the hill behind my house, I am now calling it Mason Jar Hill because I have found about 50 mason jar lids there, I think it was a dump. It was bush hogged recently giving me an opportunity to search it more. I don't keep any of the lids, they are all rusty and corroded. I doubt anyone would care. I was only there about an hour before I got tired of the wind and the deer flies. Usually deer flies are suppressed by the wind but lucky me, not today! There were some spots on the hill that were out of the wind. Finds: Nice green 3oz jar, I think I damaged it digging for whatever else I was after. Heavy glass. Mangled token marked "Good for 50¢ in merchandise", sadly the vendor could not be read on the back. Old zipper pull, 1919 wheat, and a piece of decorative metal. Here is what the jar is, I found it. Got a lot more to do here, it's only about a half acre but it's all hill. Trash was mostly handgun bullet shells and the ever present Mason jar lids. The lids ID from 21-32, so I have to dig them all. 😵

A probe is handy for sure. They are not hard to make either. I have two that stay in the Scrambler with the digging tool arsenal. Get on an old house site and find the privies & dump sites. It is a easy & positive way to confirm what my CX II Bloodhound 2 box sounds off on.

Chris, you are just knocking them out of the ball-park lately. And those buckles have become the "cat's meow" of desired/collectible finds , in collector circles lately. They, & the gun, are just dripping with history and are so cool to find. Congratz !

F350, It just occurred to me that probing my be useful at the Ferry Landing also, to try and gauge how deep that transitional harder layers are, at various places in the muck!!👍👍

Hi pinpointa. First off, I'd e-mail both centreville service centers again and give them some time to respond. From the measurements and the price I'd give amazon a chance with this ones: --> https://www.amazon.com/-/de/dp/B06XJ18PRS/ref=sr_1_1?__mk_de_DE=ÅMÅŽÕÑ&dchild=1&keywords=mdr+rf865r+rf865rk&qid=1619887826&sr=8-1 Not knowing what the problem is with your pads, I think it is the plastic skin become cracky and some parts will peel off. What I did was I peeled off every part from the ear cushions with a pair of tweezers and still use them with no problems. Hope this was helpful.

Gerry, FB is full of haters and that is why I just posted your excellent article and told them "Class is in session".

Interesting morning chaining....4 little bits....they are getting smaller as i move down.... Love this machine. Easy to use, easy to swing. EMI certainly effects it when you crank the sensitivity up. Managed to stay about half way today. Still screams on these small bits, but much less erratic threshold. None of these were deep, but just down from these theres a patch of deep looking clay. The 19" will get put over that. Back tomorrow to chain the top part of the patch!

Rather then go down the cords on the shoulder track with multi battery charging, I`ve ordered a set of Aventree Torus as per Lunks link but through Aventree Australia, these give the option of using the retractable ear buds or using the speaker function on a band that simply you place around your neck. Once I`ve field tested them on the 6000 I will post my findings in this thread. Time will tell if this is the go but it does seem a great concept, I thank Lunk & DP for making me aware of such.

I cannot afford a GPZ 7000 and I wouldn't enjoy swinging it either at my age. Cutting off the connector on an expensive stock coil in order to make an unsanctioned aftermarket coil work that costs more than most of my detectors is just beyond my comprehension unless I am working an area that will easily and quickly pay for all of that equipment, modifications and possible equipment failures due to the modifications which will not be covered by a warranty. As far as the QED, I have one. I paid for it. I did not pay much attention to what the now ex-dealer said before or after he became an ex-dealer. The QED I have works quite well with smaller coils. Is it even close to a GPX 5000........NO. Is it better than a Whites TDI for me.....YES so far. I don't have enough hours on it yet to compare it definitively to the SDC 2300 except to say that it is tons easier to swing and coil changes including DDs are easy. If anyone wants to borrow it just let me know. As far as this forum is concerned, it is where I feel at home with people like Steve, Rob A, Bill S, Gerry, and many other detector lovers and prospecting friends here that I respect and trust. My day would not be the same without this forum.

Got out this morning for a 3+ hour all water hunt. Targets were few and far between but the 14K, 9.4 gram gold ring couldn't hide from the AQ. All settings were at preset except the delay which I ran around 10. I hunt in all metal and some of the iron was questionable with double blips but I dig it all anyway. The ring was down a couple of deep scoops but was very loud and repeatable. The open .925 silver earring gave a broken signal. Thanks for looking. Bob K

He has been getting the best find of the month all year among the people I hunt with.It will be tough to beat that for the month of May.A great relic.He started the year with that huge gold ring in January in the first 15 minutes with his new Nox.Well done Relic Ray.

Yes, actually anything that repeats (mostly) and has some positive numbers flash. Also it has to show that it's deeper than 6" Really anything that is odd sounding.

Didn't dig too much that was iffy, of you mean tone but no id. Tried one but found nothing. I pretty much avoided iron this time, did chase a 32 from under a piling that turned out to be a big hunk of lead. Had to use the composite trowel. I was going slow and covering areas that my foot prints weren't on. Learned a lesson from my grid searching, If I want to find stuff in the future I shouldn't do that 🤪

Katherine Jeager's A Guide Book of United States Tokens and Medals has a section titled Tooled and Altered Coins with several (short) chapters and different variations. I think yours is classifed Countermarked Coin. You've obviously found a good detecting spot. I hope you get more time there before the fences go up and bulldozers take over. The Barber Quarter doesn't qualify as a semi-key but seems to carry a bit extra value compared to others with similar mintage. Your Merc wasn't in circulation terribly long -- such a piece of art!

At this early stage of the 6000s release I am going to be bold and throw caution to the wind, the 6000 will do what no PI or ZVT will do and maybe replace your VLFs except where discrimination is needed. Time will tell and I look forward to your findings.

This thread tells about some of the early adopters and covers the 'period' when the prospectors you referenced 'blew their boards' so to speak. They did try to make their own patch leads in the field and it is my understanding there was an error/short in a lead made by a tech in WA. It is a bit of a blur to me now but I was following it at the time. As a result of their problems and some of the other discussion about fine wires and temperatures I sought out a tech when I got my 15x10 X-coil. I've used it without patch lead problems. It didn't exactly make my old patches new again (probably more my fault) but I've found gold with it and I've not put the original or the 19" back on the Zed. I've stated in other threads I backed over my Zed shaft with a 4Runner tire and broke the lower shaft but it didn't break the X-coil or affect the adapter. My 19" then became a lower shaft donor as well as the chip donor. Mitchel

Great stuff, Dogodog! Ya gotta love a hunch panning out. Guess you're liking that Equinox. Nice silvers and cool relics!

Eric, magnified looks like COGOOR?

Could be a piece of slag. Where did you find it was it in the middle of nowheres or near a farm etc?

You know me well Mitchel, Weight and Ergonomics do in fact = more gold for this old Jar-Head.

Yes. Avantree uses the LL technology more than most others. I like them but prefer the Minelab with my Nox. I sent a message to Avantree. I asked them if they made any sunglasses with speakers and they do not. I would prefer them over the shoulder/neck speakers as they would be just a bit closer to the ears.

Hey guys. My name is Patrick, I'm new to detection, I'm from Brazil. Sorry for the google translation ,. I would like the help of the most experienced. I know that many have already upgraded their machines to 6000 and 7000. I have a GPX5000 with a 12x15 mono commander and a DD 11 "commander. My nugget hunting region is the most mineralized in Brazil with large companies that remove material. What are the best coils to handle such a hot soil? I am thinking of upgrading to DETECH coils of 15 "ultimate or DETECH 18" closed DD. Am I right with these coils or wrong to deal with high mineralization? Thank you all.

Here are some different relics to find! https://www.livescience.com/sword-poland-battle-of-grunwald.html?utm_source=notification

Thanks a million for the excellent feedback Tim.. I really appreciate it.. As I said I've been hesitating on buying the CT but from what you and others are reporting I get the feeling that it could provide a depth advantage, especially on the beach.. This is ultimately what I'm after on a patch I've called the 'Silver Mine' where the ML is getting as deep as it can possibly go and there could be more silver coins lurking below.. Again, thank you for your help in making up my mind..

Garrett Pro-Pointer AT and Fisher F-Pulse for me. This subject has been covered extensively in previous threads - check them out.